Confronting Stereotypes
When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I remember immediately jumping to the worst-case scenarios. Suddenly, I pictured images of people who were wheelchair-bound and unable to carry out many of the daily tasks that I had become so …
Music is Prayer
Music was always around during my childhood. From hymns sung at Mass to my parents’ cassette tape collection of early rock and roll hits to piano lessons, there was no shortage of access to music for my four older brothers …
A Teenage Take on Stereotypes
When I was asked to write something about stereotypes, I wondered what I would have to say. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that teenagers know a lot about stereotypes. Not only are we often …
The Power of Music
Chances are, if you come to our house or ride in the car with me or my family, you are going to hear music. And along with that music will come singing and, sometimes, dancing. At home, we mostly keep …
We Pay It Forward
It was a huge bag of peaches that took two kids to carry. I thanked them for their thoughtfulness, reflecting to myself, Who brings fruit from their backyard to the previous owners of their house? “It’s our pleasure, María! You …
My Kitchen Is Hallowed Ground
Recently, after a long day of cooking, I took to my Facebook page and posted the following message: “In all my travels, I have been to my fair share of holy sites—St. Peter’s in Rome, the monastery of St. Clare, …
Words Can Make a Difference
I TALK TO MYSELF. I think we all do a little bit, at least in our heads. I don’t think it’s weird; it feels necessary. When I started my clothing business, I began recording myself on my laptop’s webcam anytime something new or exciting would happen. Sometimes, I would talk through a design I was making. Other times, I would film myself during the checkout of my biggest inventory purchase, when I was packing an exciting order, or right before my first in-person sale event. You get the idea.
